Overview
Myofunctional therapy is a practice that focuses on the retraining of the muscles of the face and mouth using highly effective exercises that focus on restoring proper tongue rest position, improving one’s breathing, sleep, swallowing and orofacial posture. The main goals of myofunctional therapy include but are not limited to:
- Restoring nasal breathing
- Improving lip strength + lip seal
- Proper tongue rest position
- Correcting swallowing patterns
- Eliminating poor oral habits (thumb or digit sucking, pacifier/ sippy cup use, clothes/ blanket chewing)
Common Concerns
- Chronic allergies, headaches, migraines, and mouth breathing
- Infants presenting with difficulty latching/breastfeeding, colic, inability to sleep through the night; chronic bedwetters
- Highly sensitive gag reflex or picky eating; heartburn/GERD
- Speech concerns (articulation errors, improper tongue placement during speech , lisping)
- Tongue thrust/present with undesirable dentitions (ex: severe overbite/ overjet, underbite, high narrow palate arch)
- Postural issues related to forward head posture as a result of chronic mouth breathing (ex: dysfunction)
- Signs of sleep disordered breathing, diagnosed sleep apnea or airway issues (ex: chronically enlarged tonsils & adenoids)
Benefits
- Improved breathing and sleeping
- Improved speech, chewing & swallowing ( or latching/ breastfeeding); improvement of gag reflex + digestive issues
- Improving jaw + TMJ pain, chronic headaches/migraines, muscle tension in the face, neck and upper body
- Improved facial symmetry
- Improved speech
Practitioners
Jenessa Van Schip
Certified Orofacial Myologist TM
Jenessa is an experienced Certified Orofacial Myologist TM and registered dental hygienist with over a decade of experience in the dental field. Having graduated from Cambrian College’s dental hygiene program in 2011, she currently dedicates part of her time to a dental office in Guelph. After becoming a mother, she personally encountered the impact of tethered oral tissues on both breastfeeding and early life, as well as the various symptoms affecting adults. This discovery fueled her passion for addressing the root cause of issues like teeth clenching, jaw pain, headaches, orthodontic relapse, and sleep problems in her dental hygiene practice, leading her to specialize in Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy through the IAOM. Jenessa actively collaborates with other healthcare professionals who share her commitment to improving overall health and firmly believes that myofunctional therapy plays a pivotal role in promoting well-being and positively influencing lives. As a lifelong learner, she constantly seeks to expand her knowledge through courses, reading, and staying up-to-date with the latest research. Outside of her professional life, Jenessa finds joy in being a mother to three young children and indulges in hobbies like volleyball, music, and quality family time.
